SIMARA, MARCH 30

New Road Team defeated Nava Janajagriti Youth Club 3-2 in the semi-final match of the 12th Jagdamba Jitpur-Simara Gold Cup here at the Simara Stadium today.

Stephane Samir scored a brace and Messouke Oloumou netted one goal for the A division outfit, while Ayush Ghalan and Alan Thapa replied for the home team.

Samir was named the player of the match and he earned Rs 5,000.

NRT took the lead in the match through Samir's goal in the 30th minute after he found the back of the nets following a pass from Ranjan Bista. The hosts levelled the scores in the 65th minute when Ghalan headed home on a cross from Mohit Gurung to ignite a wild celebration from 4,000-strong home fans.

NRT then scored twice in the space of two minutes to effectively seal a place in the final.

Messouke Oloumou made it 2-1 in the 85th minute capitalising on defensive error, while Samir netted his second goal of the match two minutes later.

Alan Thapa reduced the deficit for the home team in the injury time but it was too late for them to come back into the match.

The fifth edition winners, Nava Janajagriti were reduced to 10 men in the injury time of the match after referee Nabindra Maharjan expelled Dona Thapa for an unnecessary argument.

On Thursday, Nepal APF Football Club will take on Bagmati Youth Club in the second semi-final match. The final is scheduled for Saturday.

A version of this article appears in the print on March 31, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.